Deformation device for a motor vehicle and motor vehicle comprising a deformation device of this type

Abstract

A motor vehicle deformation device has two elements moveable together in a collision event and optionally locked. A locking device has a first centrifugal lever pivotably mounted about a first pivot axis located on the first element, a first torsion spring operatively connected to the first lever, a first rolling surface and a first contact surface arranged distally to same, as well as an identically designed second centrifugal lever neighboring the first lever. In a low-speed collision, the two levers each swivel such that the two rolling surfaces are in contact with one another and the two contact surfaces each rest against a corresponding receiving surface on the second element. In a pedestrian accident situation, the two levers each swivel such that the two rolling surfaces are in contact with one another, while the first and second contact surfaces are at a distance from the second element.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A deformation device for a motor vehicle having a cross-member, comprising a deformation element which is fittable to the cross-member, wherein the deformation element comprises:
 a first element and a second element, which are displaceable relative to each other as a result of a collision; and 
 a locking device which is pretensionable and which is movably supported on the first element and which is optionally lockable or not lockable with the second element in the course of the collision, wherein 
 the locking device has a first centrifugal force lever which is pivotably supported about a first pivot axis located on the first element, and a second centrifugal force lever which is adjacent to the first centrifugal force lever and which is pivotably supported about a second pivot axis which is located on the first element, 
 the first centrifugal force lever has a first torsion spring which is arranged around the first pivot axis and which is actively connected to the first centrifugal force lever, a first rolling face and a first abutment face which is distal thereto, and 
 the second centrifugal force lever has a second torsion spring which is arranged around the second pivot axis and which is actively connected to the second centrifugal force lever, a second rolling face and a second abutment face which is distal thereto, 
 wherein, in an event of an accident situation which represents a low-speed collision, the first centrifugal force lever and the second centrifugal force lever pivot in each case about the first pivot axis or second pivot axis such that the first rolling face and the second rolling face move into abutment with each other, the first abutment face is in abutment with a corresponding first receiving face which is located on the second element, and the second abutment face is in abutment with a corresponding second receiving face which is located on the second element, and 
 wherein, in an event of an accident situation which represents a pedestrian collision, the first centrifugal force lever and the second centrifugal force lever pivot in each case about the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis such that the first rolling face and the second rolling face are in abutment with each other, while the first abutment face and the second abutment face are remote from the second element. 
 
     
     
       2. The deformation device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the second element has a portion which is inclined in the direction of the first element and via which the distal end of the first centrifugal force lever with respect to the first rolling face and via which the distal end of the second centrifugal force lever with respect to the second rolling face slides in the course of the collision in order to tension the first torsion spring or second torsion spring. 
 
     
     
       3. The deformation device according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the inclined portion has, in a virtual plane defined by the first centrifugal force lever and the second centrifugal force lever and when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the deformation device, an inclination angle between 5° and 30°. 
 
     
     
       4. The deformation device according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the inclined portion has, in a virtual plane defined by the first centrifugal force lever and the second centrifugal force lever and when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the deformation device, an inclination angle between 20° and 25°. 
 
     
     
       5. The deformation device according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the inclined portion has, in a virtual plane defined by the first centrifugal force lever and the second centrifugal force lever and when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the deformation device, an inclination angle of 23°. 
 
     
     
       6. The deformation device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first centrifugal force lever has a first locking face which in the course of the collision is in abutment with a corresponding first counter-face which is located on the first element, and 
 the second centrifugal force lever has a second locking face which in the course of the collision is in abutment with a corresponding second counter-face which is located on the first element. 
 
     
     
       7. A motor vehicle, comprising:
 a cross-member; 
 a bumper; and 
 at least one deformation device according to  claim 6 . 
 
     
     
       8. The deformation device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a restoring device which is constructed in a resilient manner and which is supported on the second element for returning the first element into a collision-free starting position. 
 
     
     
       9. The motor vehicle according to  claim 8 , wherein
 a plurality of deformation devices whose respective restoring devices have spring characteristics which are at least partially different from each other are arranged in a transverse vehicle direction. 
 
     
     
       10. A motor vehicle, comprising:
 a cross-member; 
 a bumper; and 
 at least one deformation device according to  claim 1 .